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She thought about it for a long moment and then shook her head. “No. No one.”
After a few more questions were asked, Levi cupped her elbow and urged her to stand as he himself pushed to his feet. “Come on, I’m taking you home.”
Piper looked from Harper to Raini. “I’ll understand if you don’t want me to come back.”
Both her new bosses frowned.
“Why wouldn’t we want you to come back?” asked Raini.
“The bastard who stabbed me might come at me again,” Piper pointed out. “He could do that here.”
“That would be on him, not you,” said Raini. “You wouldn’t be the first worker here who had danger dogging them. Sad as it might be, it’s not unusual for demons to find themselves in this situation. Our world is violent.”
Harper nodded. “The people here look out for each other. Keep coming to work as usual. Don’t put your life on hold unless you absolutely have to. And if it does come to that, you’ll still have a job waiting for you for when you can come back.”
“So we’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early,” said Raini.
As each of the girls gave Piper a gentle hug, mindful of her wounded shoulder, Larkin held out a duffel to Levi and said, “Here.”
He took it from her, nodding his thanks. He’d telepathically asked her to pack him an overnight bag, because there wasn’t a chance he was leaving Piper alone tonight. For one thing, her attacker could strike again. For another, she had to be shaken on some level; he didn’t want her dealing with it on her own.
Once she was ready to leave, Levi led her out of the Underground and then drove her home. Inside the house, he dropped his duffel on the hallway floor.
She glanced down at it. “Do I want to know what’s in that bag?”
“Larkin packed a bunch of my stuff, knowing I wouldn’t want to leave you tonight. Don’t ask me to, Piper. Not when we both know that whoever tried to kill you could come for you here. Besides, am I fuck going to leave you alone after what you just went through.”
Touched, Piper swallowed hard. She didn’t bother pointing out that she was mostly fine now, because she knew that wasn’t the point. Knew that the ‘scuffle’ earlier could have ended so differently. Namely with him mourning her. Demons who lost their anchors could go off the damn rail. And if the bond was formed at the time, a mourning anchor could even turn rogue.
“I wasn’t going to object,” said Piper. “If the situation was reversed, I’d have been too wound up to go on home like nothing happened. I’d have wanted to stay with you.” It hadn’t been easy to admit that, but the hint of warmth that seeped into his gaze made it worth it. “I’ve got a spare room you can use.”
“I won’t be sleeping. I’ll be standing guard down here.”
Since demons could go days without sleep, it wouldn’t do him any harm.
His eyes swept over her face, so fucking intent on her. That laser-focus was dangerously seductive. Dammit, she didn’t want to be this person who pined for someone she couldn’t have. It was getting old fast. But how did you switch off an attraction that felt so basic and elemental? That seemed so completely out of your control?
“I’ll find out who stabbed you, Piper. They’re in for a world of pain. And if they were hired by someone, said someone will suffer worse.”
She believed him. “Good.”
“I’ll be putting guards on you. Enzo and Dez will keep a close watch when I’m not with you. Also, I want to have a security system installed here.”
“I’m sensing you expect me to object to these precautions. While I’m not fond of that high-handed tone you’re using, I’m not going to put up a protest when it became clear today that someone wants me dead. I’m still trying to wrap my head around that.”
“They won’t get what they want, I swear that to you.”
Nodding, she gestured upstairs. “I’m gonna go give myself a washdown and change clothes. I can’t shower or I’ll get the bandage wet.”
“You go do that. I’ll make dinner.”
She’d already known he could cook; he’d told her during one of their talks. “You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Okay, thank you.” She padded out of the room and up the stairs, already sensing he was totally going to baby her tonight. She wouldn’t expect any different, given he had to be shook up that someone wanted her dead. She wouldn’t balk at a little hovering. Temporarily.
Someone wanted her dead.
God, she really was becoming a high-maintenance anchor.
Dinner was a quiet affair. Levi kept a close eye on Piper throughout the meal. Right then—lost in her own head, operating on autopilot—she looked so very unreachable.
He’d seen her like this each time she used her gift to help others. At first, he’d mistaken it for shock. But he’d eventually come to realize that whenever Piper felt overwhelmed, she tended to distance herself from what she was feeling. He got the sense that she preferred to wait until she was alone before she allowed herself to mentally process things.
